Conservation tillage and biological activity

Soil structure, earthworms, springtails, and predatory mites of a Parabraunerde were studied in plots under conventional (plough) and conservation tillage (mulchseed) with sugar beet as standing crop. The treatment conservation tillage resulted in a more stable soil structure in the upper Dart of the topsoil because of a reduced tillage intensity. The more stable soil structure is characterized by a distinct vertically orientated macroporosity. The lower bulk density level is the result of limited efficiency of compaction stresses. The abundances of all three groups of the soil fauna (earthworms, springtails, predatory mites) were higher in the plot with conservation tillage than in that with conventional tillage. The biomass of the earthworms in the plot with conservation tillage was higher too. The earthworm species L. terrestris was only found in the plot with mulchseed, because the soil surface was covered with organic residues. Mulchseed for sugar beets is a good strategy against soil erosion and for protecting biological activity in soil.